UPPER SAUCON TWP., Pa. — The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of the Lehigh Valley will recognize influencers during its annual gala Friday night in Center Valley.
The banquet, La Influencia Latina, will in part help to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month, which is recognized from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.
Organizers say the night’s awards reception will celebrate the region’s Hispanic entrepreneurs and executives, with proceeds from a silent auction fundraiser going to the Fe Foundation – which oversees the chamber’s educational and community development programs.
Awards and those being recognized include:
The Hispanic Chamber Community Advocate Award, to Vanessa Rivera. The award celebrates an advocate who champions the Hispanic community through leadership, outreach and engagement.
Rivera is a licensed Realtor with Century 21 Keim Realty and has 20 years’ experience in banking, business development and real estate. She previously worked with Univest Bank and TD Bank.
Earlier this year she was named a Woman of Influence by Lehigh Valley Business and is the founder of a women’s group created to support and elevate women in business through collaboration, shared resources and networking.
The Community Partner Award, to Javier Diaz. This award recognizes an individual whose collaboration and support have strengthened the Hispanic community and advanced the mission of the Hispanic chamber, according to the chamber.
Diaz is director of video and broadcast content for PBS39 and Lehigh Valley Public Media. He began his career as a camera operator and director at Blue Ridge Cable TV13. He first joined PBS39 in 2000, then returned in 2014.
Diaz oversees the production team and has produced, directed and led programs highlighting Latino stories such as “Es Tiempo” and “A Su Salud.” He has earned multiple Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards and national Public Media Awards.
A Bethlehem resident, he is active with Scout Troop 352, coaches baseball at Northwest Little League, and coaches basketball at Notre Dame School of Bethlehem and the Little Hawks organization.
The Business Impact Award, to Allentown City Realty. The award honors a business that has made significant contributions to the economic vitality of the Hispanic community.
Allentown City Realty was founded in 2017 by Carlos A. Nunez. It’s a residential real estate brokerage in the Lehigh Valley and Poconos with a team of 32 Latino real estate professionals.
According to the chamber, 95 percent of the firm’s buyers and sellers come from the Latino community, with the majority being first-time home buyers.
The chamber gala will be held at the Centennial Conference Center at Homewood Suites on Center Valley Parkway.